Hiroyuki Sanada Joins Fox's 'Wolverine'

Japan’s Hiroyuki Sanada is set to play Wolverine foe Shingen in 20th Century Fox’s upcoming The Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by James Mangold. Lauren Shuler-Donner, Kevin Feige, Jackman and Hutch Parker are producing the X-Men sequel, which begins production next month in Australia and later in Japan. In the Marvel comic universe, Shingen was a Japanese yakuza crime boss who also happened to be the father of Wolverine’s fiancee. Sanada just finished filming The Railway Man opposite Colin Firth and is also in Universal’s 47 Ronin, which will be released next February. He won the Japanese Oscar for The Twilight Samurai, and his credits include Rush Hour 3, City Of Your Final Destination, and The White Countess. He is repped by Lighthouse Entertainment and Axon Entertainment.